BIG-HEARTED staff at Wellington bedding firm Relyon have provided a charity boost in memory of a former colleague.

They raised about £400 for St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice from a coffee morning and cake sale, organised by now-retired Relyon worker Jeanette Bird, whose close friend Marion Church recently died of cancer.

The event was one of a number taking place this year to remember Marion, who was admitted into the hospice for the final stages of her battle against the illness.

Jeanette said: “St Margaret’s Hospice needs to raise £9.5 million each year to continue to deliver its marvellous care.

 “We saw, first-hand, the wonderful way it looked after Marion and just wanted to do something to say thank-you.

“The staff at Relyon were brilliant - thanks to everyone who helped and supported us by baking, donating or buying!”

Jeanette’s husband Ken also raised £400 for the hospice at the start of the year by undertaking the ‘Dry January’ challenge.

But the major event in memory of Marion takes place next month when her son, Chris, and his friend Wayne Hines are cycling from Land’s End to John o’Groats on the Marion Church Pedal to Beat Cancer.

They are raising money for the Hope for Tomorrow charity, which provides mobile cancer care units to bring treatment closer to patients’ homes.